Spicy Broccoli Cheese Soup, 2013 version

One night early in the week we were chilled to the bone after being out in the below zero F. weather so soup was on order.  This is the recipe I came up with after looking at multiple recipes online.  To me it tastes pretty yummy!

Broccoli Cheese Soup, Spicy

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings about 4

16-ounce package frozen broccoli

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1 onion, chopped very finely
1 rib of celery, chopped fine…can use food processor for both of these chopping jobs if you don’t have a good chef’s knife;  just pulse a few times until the consistency you like.
1 quart chicken broth
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon or more ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon hot chili oil (you can leave this out if you are not a spicy fan, or add more...though probably not very much more.  This amount was as spicy as we liked it...)
1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
Dash of salt-if you taste  the soup and find you need it

Directions

1. Put oil or butter into a heavy soup pot (4-quart or larger). Place pot over medium heat and add onions and celery.  Stir with a wooden spoon for several minutes until the onions and celery are well-softened.

2. Pulse broccoli in food processor until finely chopped.  (This is for those people who don’t like to see broccoli florets in their broccoli soup.  You know who you are!)   

3.  Add chicken stock to soup pot and bring to a boil, stirring often as you check to make sure the onions and celery are actually sofened.  Add chopped broccoli, thyme, hot chili oil, and black pepper.  Stir well.

4.  Stir in shredded cheese then add heavy cream.  Stir well.

5. Serve immediately.  Nice homemade croutons go well as a garnish, or just enjoy it as is.

6.  If you do have leftovers, store them in a glass bottle in the refrigerator then either sip cold, or warm in a microwave or put in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the temperature you like.  You don't want to heat over high heat or the cheese and cream can break and you have ugly-looking soup.  It has happened...